The Option of Last Resort: Iraqi Refugees in the United States 2 by Gabriela Bulisova

Artist: Gabriela BulisovaYear: 2010-2011Medium: Photograph

"I am an Iraqi person who came to the United States as a refugee. I am originally from the south of Iraq. I escaped death several times. I was working with the United States Army in Iraq in different positions for several years. I basically became marked for death because a lot of information got into the terrorists' hands. They sent me a text message saying: ‘We will cut you into a hundred pieces and will throw you in front of your door.' I knew it was not a joke. My friend, they slaughtered him. They put his head in front of the door. Another friend, they kidnapped her, and I understood from her that they raped her. And another friend of mine, she was shot along with her driver. When they shot my friend, I understood that they knew many things about me. I knew I would be the next one. And because my sister and I both worked for the United States Army, I knew they would kill us both, if not our entire family. I had to take action, not just to protect myself, but to protect my family."